Legal Commentary

Father of Najibullah Zazi Pleads Not Guilty, Ordered Detained

By Jeralyn

Mohammed Zazi, the father of Najibullah Zazi, pleaded not guilty to a charge he conspired to obstruct the grand investigation into his son's alleged terror-related activities. According to the Indictment, the object of the conspiracy was to destroy or conceal items such as glasses and chemicals to impair their availability to the grand jury.

Mr. Zazi was ordered held without bond today, but the Judge said his lawyers could reopen the matter and submit a bond application and package either to the Magistrate Judge or the District Court Judge. His lawyer said she had not prepared a bond package, probably because she had just been appointed. The Judge did not detain Mr. Zazi as a danger to the community, only as a flight risk, since he hadn't presented sufficient sureties to assure his future appearance. (Order here, Minutes of hearing here.) [More...]

Zazi had been free on bond until his Feb. 1 arrest in Denver on the New York indictment. Denver then dismissed its case against him, which also terminated his bond. New York was requesting detention, so the Magistrate Judge in Denver ordered him into the custody of the Marshal's Service for transfer to New York. The Commitment Order also directed the Marshals' to promptly advise the U.S. Attorney and the court of Zazi's arrival there so a hearing could promptly be scheduled.

He must have just arrived, as today was his first court appearance and counsel was appointed for him today. Why does it take 8 days to travel from Denver to New York? That's how "Con Air" often works.

A status conference is set for March 2, 2010.

Naqib Jaji, Najibullah's uncle, was arrested a few weeks ago in New York and is believed to be cooperating. His case is sealed. Sounds like it was his cooperation that led to Mohammed Zazi's indictment.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 09, 2010 (boomark / email).